Method and device for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator compartment using a single sensor

1. A method for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator unit, comprising the steps of:

determining a sensor temperature of the refrigerator unit, comprising:

obtaining at least one single-sensor temperature reading;

determining whether said at least one single-sensor temperature reading is valid;

accumulating a known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings;

obtaining at least one additional single-sensor temperature reading when one of said at least one single-sensor temperature readings is determined to be invalid;

accumulating a count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings; and

determining said sensor temperature as invalid when said accumulated count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings exceeds a predetermined value;

determining which of a plurality of disjoint temperature regions said sensor temperature lies within; and

setting an operating condition of each of a plurality of components of the refrigerator unit based on conditions associated with said determined temperature region to a default value when said sensor temperature is determined to be invalid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said accumulating of said known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings comprises averaging said known number of valid single-sensor temperature readings.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said single-sensor temperature readings are valid when said single-sensor temperature reading is within a region in the order of −41 to 150 degrees F.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sensor temperature is determined periodically.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said disjoint temperature regions has associated therewith an operating condition of at least one of a refrigerator compressor unit, an evaporator unit, a condenser unit and a damper unit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one additional single-sensor temperature reading is obtained at a known periodic rate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of disjoint regions includes at least default operational settings for each of a refrigerator compressor unit, an evaporator unit, a condenser unit and a damper unit.

8. A device for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator unit, comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code which when accessed by said processor causes said processor to:

determine a sensor temperature of the refrigerator unit, comprising:

obtaining at least one single-sensor temperature reading;

determining whether said at least one single-sensor temperature reading is valid;

accumulating a known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings;

obtaining at least one additional single-sensor temperature reading when one of said at least one single-sensor temperature readings is determined to be invalid;

accumulating a count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings; and

determining said sensor temperature as invalid when said accumulated count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings exceeds a predetermined value;

determine which of a plurality of disjoint temperature regions said temperature lies within; and

set an operating condition of each of a plurality of components of the refrigerator unit based on conditions associated with said determined temperature region to a default value when said sensor temperature is determined to be invalid.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein said accumulating of said known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings comprises averaging said known number of valid single-sensor temperature readings.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein said single-sensor temperature readings are valid when said single-sensor temperature reading is within a region in the order of −41 to 150 degrees F.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein said sensor temperature is determined periodically.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein said disjoint temperature regions have associated therewith an operating condition of at least one of a refrigerator compressor unit, an evaporator unit, a condenser unit and a damper unit.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein said one additional single-sensor temperature is obtained at a known periodic rate.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said plurality of disjoint regions includes at least default operational settings for each of a refrigerator compressor unit, an evaporator unit, a condenser unit and a damper unit.

15. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one input/output device in communication with said processor and said memory.

16. A device for managing operating conditions of a refrigerator unit, comprising:

an input means for receiving at least one single-sensor temperature reading;

processing means for

determining a sensor temperature from at least one single-sensor temperature reading, comprising:

determining whether said at least one single-sensor temperature reading is valid; and

accumulating a known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings; and

obtaining at least one additional single-sensor temperature reading when one of said at least one single-sensor temperature reading is determined to be invalid;

accumulating a count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings;

determining said sensor temperature as invalid when said accumulated count of said determined invalid single-sensor temperature readings exceeds a predetermined value; and

determining operating conditions of each of a plurality of components of the refrigerator unit based on said sensor temperature, wherein said operating conditions are presented for a plurality of disjoint temperature regions, and further including default conditions when said sensor temperature is determined to be invalid; and

output means for outputting said determined operating conditions to each of said plurality of components.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein said accumulating of said known number of said valid single-sensor temperature readings comprises averaging said known number of valid single-sensor temperature readings.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein said single-sensor temperature readings are valid when said single-sensor temperature reading is within a region in the order of −41 to 150 degrees F.